October is going to be a great month. So many events are going down. Comic-Con starts next week and CMJ starts the week after that. Then we’ll wrap up the month with Halloween, which should be interesting being that I just started going out on Halloween about 2 years ago (I don’t want to hear it!)
Enough about me, I have some really cool bands to talk about this month. So, without further ado…
Yankee Bang Bang
Yankee Bang Bang are an indie garage rock band from Brooklyn, New York. Members include Glenn Baughman (Vocals/Bass), Kevin Blatchford (drums) and Sita Asar (Vocals/Guitar). Sita and Glenn’s vocals add a light hearted feel to the already uplifting melodies.
The band was formed when Sita moved to New York and met Kevin. Together they “vowed to themselves and the world that they would dedicate their lives to making music that was true to their respective roots and yet original, music that would capture new and interesting themes without ever losing its edge, music that would make people dance in the streets and make out with strangers while shaking wildly as if experiencing epileptic seizures or LSD flashbacks.”
They have done a pretty good job of it thus far.
Bandcamp, Twitter, Facebook, Website, Tumblr
Starlight Girls
Brooklyn’s psych/retro pop powerhouse Starlight Girls are destined for stardom. Band members include guitarist Shaw Walters, drummer/singer Karys Rhea, singer/songwriter/keyboardist Christina B., and the bassist who simply goes by Tyson.
Christina B. and company were featured on The L Magazines “8 Bands You Need to Hear” earlier this year, collaborated with Xiu Xiu’s Jamie Stewart on a 7” due out next month, and not to mention a full length LP due out in 2013. I think it goes without saying we’ll be hearing a lot of these guys real soon.
The band sites Nancy Sinatra, Ted Lyons & His Cubs, Syd Barrett, The Monks and ESG as influences. I like to think they take a little bit of something from every era of music, creating a unique sound.
Bandcamp, Facebook, Twitter, Website
Void Vision
Void Vision is the solo project of Philadelphia native Shari Vari. Coldwave, new wave, and synthpop influences are definitely prevalent in her music.
Void Vision started in 2009 as a duo (with Dream Affair’s Hayden Payne) and Shari continued solo after the release of their debut 7”. She has been known to “goth the roof off” the Weird Records parties from time to time and has been doing so since 2009.
Her music has been described as “dark, danceable and made for a party” and I’m sure she’ll pop up at a Weird Records party soon enough, so keep your eyes peeled.
Bancamp, Twitter, Facebook
Dark Dark Dark
Dark Dark Dark is an American folk band based out of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Their music has become quite
popular over the years and with features on shows like Grey’s Anatomy, Switched at Birth, Degrassi: The Next Generation, American Idol, and Skins, I can almost guarantee that you’ve heard a Dark Dark Dark song at one point or another.
The band lineup has changed three times since their inception in 2006. The current lineup includes Nona Marie Invie on lead vocals, piano, and accordion, Marshall LaCount on banjo, clarinet and vocals, Walt McClements on piano, accordion, trumpet and backing vocals, Mark Trecka on drums and Adam Wozniak on bass.
Dark Dark Dark’s bring a slight Vanessa Carlton/Sara Bareilles vibe from their music; really evoking emotion through beautiful lyrics and melodies.
An interesting fact about the band is that founding members Invie and LaCount were in a serious relationship that ended early 2011, right before a yearlong tour. Many thought Invie’s lyrics were about Marshall and when asked she said “Many of these songs are about understanding and accepting the nuances of my emotions. The obvious parts and the dark parts. There are times when it’s important to quit fantasizing and face the truth about what is happening.”
Dark Dark Dark’s new album entitled “Who Needs Who” dropped earlier this week and is totally worth a listen.
Facebook, Twitter, Bandcamp, Website
Wymond Miles
The side project of The Fresh and Onlys guitarist was four years in the making. With obligations as a father and obligations to his bandmates, the songs were put aside, forcing him to work on it bits at a time.
After four years of work, Wymond releases Earth has Doors and Under the Pale Moon, an EP and LP full of emotion and lest we forget, musical genius. Shades of Nick Cave, Echo and the Bunnymen, and The Church are evident here. I would even go as far as saying if The Church were modernized, this is what they would sound like.
Facebook, Bandcamp
BOOM! Five awesome bands for October!
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Thanks for reading guys and I’ll see you next month. 🙂
Later,
Lito
Lito's Life 